Congratulations! You’ve got an Apple Pencil in your hand. Whether you are a digital artist, a college student taking rapid-fire notes, or just someone who prefers keeping fingerprints off their iPad screen, you likely know the basics. You know how to tap, you know how to write, and you know how to charge it.
But the Apple Pencil is far more than just a fancy stylus. It is a sophisticated tool packed with gesture controls, pressure sensitivity, and software integrations that Apple doesn’t always advertise on the box. Beneath that sleek, white exterior lies a productivity powerhouse waiting to be unleashed.
If you want to move beyond basic tapping and scrolling, you’re in the right place. We have rounded up 10 hidden features and tricks that will help you master your Apple Pencil and change the way you use your iPad forever.
1. The Magic of "Scribble": Turn Handwriting into Text
For years, using a stylus meant writing inside specific drawing apps. With the "Scribble" feature, your Apple Pencil becomes a keyboard replacement. You can write by hand in any text field across iPadOS, and your iPad will instantly convert it into typed text.
This is incredibly useful for searching in Safari, replying to an iMessage, or jotting down reminders without putting the Pencil down to type. It even works with messy handwriting!
How to master Scribble gestures:
- To delete text: Simply scratch out a word or sentence with a squiggly line, just like you would on paper, and it will vanish.
- To select text: Draw a circle around a word or draw a line through it to highlight it.
- To insert text: Touch and hold the Pencil tip in the middle of a sentence where you want to add a word; the text will part to make room for you to write.
- To join or separate words: Draw a vertical line between two letters to add a space, or draw a line in a space to delete it and join words.
Pro Tip: If Scribble isn't working for you, head to Settings > Apple Pencil and ensure the "Scribble" toggle is turned green.
2. Secret Corner Gestures for Speed
Navigating the iPad usually requires a lot of swiping with your fingers, but the Apple Pencil has its own set of "Hot Corners." These allow you to perform essential tasks with a single swipe, saving you from digging through control centers or button combinations.
By default, these gestures are set up for screenshots and notes, but they are fully customizable. Here is how they work:
- Bottom-Left Corner Swipe: Drag your Pencil diagonally from the bottom-left corner toward the center of the screen to instantly take a screenshot. This is much faster than fumbling for the volume and power buttons.
- Bottom-Right Corner Swipe: Drag diagonally from the bottom-right to open a "Quick Note." This opens a floating notepad where you can jot down an idea, save a link from Safari, or sketch a diagram without leaving the app you are currently using.
If you want to change these (for example, if you want the left corner to open a Quick Note instead), go to Settings > Apple Pencil > Pencil Gestures and configure the corners to your liking.
3. Perfect Shapes Every Time
Have you ever tried to draw a circle on your iPad, only to end up with a lopsided potato? We have all been there. Apple solved this with a feature called shape recognition. It turns your rough sketches into geometrically perfect shapes instantly.
This trick is essential for students drawing diagrams, architects sketching floor plans, or anyone who loves tidy notes.
How to do it:
- Draw a shape (like a circle, square, triangle, star, or arrow).
- Do not lift your pencil tip off the glass when you finish the shape.
- Hold the tip still for about half a second.
- Watch as the line snaps into a mathematically perfect vector shape.
This works in the Notes app, Freeform, and many third-party design apps like Procreate and Goodnotes.
4. Instant Notes from the Lock Screen
Inspiration strikes at the weirdest times. Sometimes you need to write something down immediately, and unlocking your iPad, finding the Notes app, and creating a new document takes too long. Apple created "Instant Notes" for this exact scenario.
You don't even need to wake up your iPad or unlock it with FaceID. simply tap your Apple Pencil on the dark, locked screen.
The iPad will wake up and immediately open a new note. You can start writing right away. Whatever you write is automatically saved to your Notes app. It is the digital equivalent of having a notepad on your nightstand.
Security Note: By default, this feature allows you to create a new note but won't let you view your old notes without unlocking the device, keeping your private data safe.
5. Mastering the Double-Tap (Pencil 2 and Pro)
If you own the Apple Pencil (2nd Generation) or the newer Apple Pencil Pro, you have a hidden button right under your finger. The flat side of the pencil—the part that magnetically snaps to the iPad—is touch-sensitive.
By double-tapping the flat side with your index finger, you can switch tools instantly. This keeps you in your "flow state" so you don't have to constantly move your hand to the toolbar.
Customizing the Double-Tap:
Go to Settings > Apple Pencil to choose what this gesture does:
- Switch between current tool and eraser: (Default) Great for correcting mistakes quickly.
- Switch between current tool and last used: Perfect for artists switching between a pen and a shader.
- Show color palette: Brings the color wheel to your cursor.
- Off: If you find yourself accidentally triggering it, you can disable it entirely.
6. Use Your Pencil Like a Mouse (The Hover Feature)
If you are lucky enough to have an M2 iPad Pro or newer, you have access to the "Hover" feature. While it sounds subtle, it changes the interface game completely. The iPad can detect the tip of the Apple Pencil up to 12mm above the screen.
Why does this matter? It acts like a mouse cursor "hover" state on a computer.
- Previewing: You can hover over apps, links, or tools to see what they do before you commit to tapping them.
- Artistic Precision: In drawing apps, you can see the exact size and shape of your brush tip before it touches the canvas. No more guessing if your brush is too big!
- Scrubbing Video: You can hover over the progress bar in video apps to scrub through footage with high precision.
7. Markup Anything, Anywhere
One of the most powerful productivity features of the Apple Pencil is the ability to sign documents and annotate PDFs without needing a printer or a third-party app.
For PDFs and Photos: Open any PDF in the Files app or a picture in the Photos app. Tap the "Markup" icon (it looks like a marker tip inside a circle) in the top corner. You can now sign contracts, circle important details in a screenshot, or draw funny mustaches on your friends.
For Emails: This is a hidden gem. If someone emails you a PDF attachment that requires a signature:
- Open the PDF directly in the Mail app.
- Tap the Markup button.
- Sign it with your Pencil.
- Tap "Done."
- Select "Reply All" to send the signed document back instantly. No printing required!
8. Find Your Lost Pencil
For years, the biggest fear of any Apple Pencil owner was losing the stylus between couch cushions. If you have the Apple Pencil Pro, Apple has finally answered your prayers by integrating it with the "Find My" network.
If you misplace your Pencil Pro, simply open the Find My app on your iPad. It will guide you to the Pencil's last known location. While older pencils don't have this chip, the Pencil Pro can chirp and use precision finding to help you locate it.
Tip for older Pencils: If you have a 1st or 2nd Gen Pencil and lose it, go to your iPad's Settings > Bluetooth. If the Pencil says "Connected," it is somewhere within 30 feet of you (check under the notepad!). If it says "Disconnected," the battery may be dead or it is out of range.
9. Shading with Tilt Sensitivity
Apple designed the Pencil to mimic analog tools. Just like a real graphite pencil, the Apple Pencil behaves differently depending on how you hold it. This isn't just for professional artists; it makes highlighting notes much more natural.
The Trick: Hold the Pencil upright to draw a fine, crisp line. Tilt the Pencil to the side (shading angle) to create a wide, soft stroke. This is incredibly useful in the Notes app when using the Highlighter tool. Tilting allows you to highlight a full line of text in one sweep, rather than drawing multiple thin lines.
10. The Battery Widget Check
There is nothing worse than sitting down to work and realizing your Pencil is dead. While the Pencil 2 and Pro charge automatically when snapped to the side of the iPad, it is easy to lose track of battery life if you have been using it for hours.
To keep an eye on it, add the Batteries Widget to your Home Screen or Today View:
- Long press on an empty area of your Home Screen until the apps jiggle.
- Tap the + button in the top left corner.
- Search for "Batteries."
- Choose the widget size that shows the percentage (the medium or large size is best).
- Tap "Add Widget."
Now you can see the exact battery percentage of your iPad and your Pencil at a glance, ensuring you never run out of juice mid-sentence.
The Apple Pencil is a deceptive device; it looks simple, but it is deep with functionality. By integrating these gestures and hidden features into your daily routine, you move from simply using a stylus to mastering a digital tool. Go ahead—grab your iPad, try out that "Snap to Shape" trick, and enjoy the magic!